Northrop Grumman YFQ-48

YFQ-48
YFQ-48 undated photo
General information
Type	Unmanned combat aerial vehicle, collaborative combat aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Northrop Grumman, Scaled Composites
Status	Under development
Primary user	United States Air Force

The Northrop Grumman YFQ-48, internally named "Talon", is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) currently under development by Northrop Grumman. The aircraft is one of the designs competing for Increment II of the United States Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program and is intended to augment crewed fighter aircraft such as the F-15EX Eagle II, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning, and the planned Next Generation Air Dominance fighter for air-to-air missions through manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T). ^[1]

Development and design

The YFQ-48 was developed using lessons from Northrop Grumman's failed bid for Increment I of the USAF CCA program. The company had submitted a design that was larger and more expensive than the ones that were selected to move forward with Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), the General Atomics YFQ-42 and Anduril YFQ-44. Based on this feedback, Northrop Grumman and its subsidiary Scaled Composites, under the codename Project Lotus, began developing a follow-on unmanned aerial system that was smaller, simpler, and less expensive, with 50% fewer parts and 1,000 lb (454 kg) lighter in weight. ^{[2] [3]} Project Lotus was later renamed Project Talon, and the design would receive the YFQ-48 designation from the USAF in December 2025, with first flight projected in 2026. ^[4]

The YFQ-48 is an unmanned aerial vehicle with a long, slender fuselage, swept lambda wings, V-tails, and air inlet mounted on top of the fuselage. It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The main landing gears are widely spaced and retract into the wings. ^[2]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• General Atomics YFQ-42
• Anduril YFQ-44

Related lists

• List of unmanned aerial vehicles

References

1. "Air Force designates Northrop Grumman's Talon prototype as YFQ-48A". U.S. Air Force. 22 December 2025.
2. Trimble, Steve (27 October 2025). "Project Lotus, Northrop Grumman's Secret Autonomous Aircraft Revealed". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
3. Rogoway, Tyler; Trevithick, Joseph (3 December 2025). "Talon Emerges From The Shadows". The War Zone.
4. Everstine, Brian (4 December 2025). "Northrop Grumman Unveils Project Talon Collaborative Combat Aircraft". Aviation Week & Space Technology.